Mecca Bingo blockbuster for Playtech

Rank plc's online bingo subsidiary to carry a new take on an 'eighties classic

Online gambling software provider Playtech plc has announced a deal through which it will exclusively provide Meccabingo.com, part of Rank Group plc, with an online bingo variant based on the top television quiz show from the 'eighties, Blockbusters.

The game will be provided through Virtue Fusion Alderney, which Playtech acquired earlier this year and will be launched on 20th July 2010 branded 'Blockbusters Bingo'.

Originally broadcast in the 1980s, Blockbusters was screened into British homes for nearly two decades. Signature elements and music are included in the game where normal bingo numbers are replaced by letters, appearing on 20 trademark yellow hexagons per ticket.

On top of the standard prizes, Blockbusters contains a special '1TG' feature game, the 'Gold Run', for all players left with one to go when the final prize, either line or column, is won. Additionally, a Community Blockbusters Jackpot can be won if the first five letters called contain 'B', 'I', 'N', 'G' and 'O' in any order. Players win a proportionate amount of the jackpot based on their game stake compared to the total staked by all players.

Rank Interactive head of gaming Angus Nisbet said this week: 'Branded online bingo games are among the most popular on Meccabingo.com and I am sure that Blockbusters will be another success. Playtech's Virtue Fusion Alderney has created a fantastic product and I am positive it will strike a chord with fans of the show and be well-liked by new players too.'

'Virtue Fusion Alderney has a long-standing relationship with Meccabingo.com. We recently created Britain's Got Talent Bingo for them which was very well received so we are delighted to have been asked to provide this game as part of their exclusive agreement with Blockbusters,' said Virtue Fusion Alderney CEO Bob McCulloch.